Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-02
INCLUDE ALL,

At the Opera House meeting last Satur.
day evening the Rev. j. R. Russell struck
the key note OF the sentiment in Butte
when he said that the White Variety bill
was not broad and comprehensive enough
in its scope. 1t should also include in its
provisions the prohibition OF the sale Of in.
toxicants in places besides variety theatsrs.
This is the opinion OF nins-tenths OF the
people OF this city. They hold that it is
wrong to create a monopoly OF liquor traf-
fc, and that a greater wrong would be in
ficted upon the community by legislating
the sale OF intoxicants out Of variety thea
tiers into more Objectionable places. The
MINER takes this view OF the matter. 1t
will heartily cooperate in any movement
which has for its object the suppression
OF vice in any form, but it holds
the view, in common with the most intelli.
gent portion Of the people. that vice in it's
most hideous form is found outside Of vau.
deville theatres, and that in striking down
the latter the great sinks OF iniqui.y would
be built up.
Will any reasonable man contend that
the ''beer jerker" is more attractive, DOS.
sesses greater destinations, and can more
easily lure the youth Of the land to his ruin
than the painted, richly dressed, highly
perfumed, hediamond, and IN many in.
stances educated and accomplished, inmate
OF the brothel' Will any sane man con.
tend that the fun-lovins, beer-drinkins
crowds that frequent variety thea.
ters can 'blow themselves in" faster
and moro surely against small
drinks at a bit a glass or at 'one and two"
at a dollar a bottle than he can at q faro
game with his brain on fire with the villain.
Gus stuff called whiskey found in gambling
hells3 Are the surrounding influences inRa |
variety theatre more dsmoralising in their
tendencies than in q brLthel or = gambling
saloon? Do the police reco rds show that
as much crime is committed in q variety
theatre as in either Of tho other places
mentioned All these questions can be
truly answeredin tho negative. Then why
should the variety theatre be singled out
to be placed under the ban OF the law and
the Others excepted? There 10 no reason
why they should be7
TaE MINER will define it's position upon
this question. 1t believes in the first place
that the control OF these places a. far a.
the sale OF intoxicants are concerned should
DO placed by a general law in tho hands OF
the municipal authorities in the cities or
own in which such variety theaters.
orothels. or gambling houses exist. And in
'he second place. if the legislative Assembly
will no grant that power to tho municipal
authorities in the Territory that it shall
cake the prohibition OF the sale OF intox;. '
ants apply to the houses of prostitution,
very low den Of vice, and in places where
'ambling games are carried on 40 we'll a. in
'ariety theaters. Let the prohibition. a.
he Rev. Mr.. Russell says, cover or include :
vi these places. Let not one escape.
HE MINER would be pleased {
o see the sale OF intoxicatin. {
liquors prohibited in all OF them but it ia I
opposed, conscientiously opposed to for. :
its sale in ono place and allowing /
t IN the Others. Let justice be done to all. 9
Let there be no discriminating. 1t is no 4
no more demoralizing to drink beer : !
a variety theatre than it 10 to drink it :
a brothel. in q sharpsr's den or in a 4
ambllng saloon. Include all in the pro-. t
lblting enactment or leave the matter r
18th the city or town authorities. .